Otto flohe



(No Model.)

0. PLOHR.

UAR COUPLING.

FIE. i.

I z A INVENTOR: WITNESSES: 0% 764,

m $W By his Atfomeys,

OTTO FLOHR, OF BUFFALO, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES A. POOLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

STE'ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,243, dated January 27, 1 891.

Application filed April 7, 1890- Serial No, 346,992- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OTTO FLOHR, a citizen of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplers having a horizontally-swinging coup- :o ling-jaw pivoted to the draw-head and a horizontally-swin gin g lockin g-pawl for retaining the jaw in the coupled position, both the jaw and pawl being mounted to move in one direction by gravity when released. Such i 5 coupling-j aws have been constructed with two arms-a coupling-arm and a locking-armand have been provided with cam-faces on their under sides, so constructed that when the jaw is released its weight, acting on these cam-faces, will cause it to swing outwardly into position to receive and engage with a similar coupling-head. The pawls have been constructed to abut against the end of the locking-arm of the jaw and prevent the latter 5 from swinging when in the coupled position and when withdrawn to ride up inclined camfaces and pass out from behind the lockingarm, permitting the jaw to swing outwardly. These cam-faces have been so constructed 3 that upon releasing the pawl its weight, acting on the cam-faces, would return it to the locked position.

This invention aims to improve car-couplers of this general class, and has for its object to increase the strength of the draw-head and working parts of the coupler, to render the coupler more certain and rapid in operation than heretofore, to decrease the resistance in uncoupling the coupler, to provide 4 means whereby the locking mechanism will not be distorted. by any unusual strains to which it is subject-ed, and means for insuring the locking of the coupling-jaw in cases where a quick coupling is eifeeted.

To this end in carrying out my invention I construct the draw-head and other parts of the coupler of an improved form specially adapted to the requirements of a coupler of this character, and I provide a re-enforcing 5o pocket for the pivotal end of the lockingpawl, and I provide a plurality of locklng provisions between the jaw and pawl serially arranged in such manner that the jaw may be locked byanyone of them,and I construct the draw-headwith an elongated slot in its upper side, so arranged that it follows the path traversed by the chain for operating the locking-pawl during the entire swing of the latter, whereby the friction of the chain is reduced to the minimum.

In the accompanying drawings, which ill ustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan view of two car-couplers constructed according to my invention and shown in the coupled position, the left-hand coupler being in elevation and the right-hand one being shown in horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of a single coupler, the parts being shown in the open position in full lines and in the partially-locked position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a coupler, cut on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1, the jaw being in the locked position. Fig. 4: is an under side plan of a coupling-jaw removed, and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a locking-pawl removed.

Referring to the drawings, let A indicate the draw-head or casing; B, the coupling-j aw; O,the locking-pawl, and D the operating-chain for the latter.

The draw-head A is a cast-iron casing, formed, preferably, in one piece with its shank A for connection with the draw-bar of a car, and constructed with horizontal top and bot tom walls a I), either of which may be externally ribbed, if desired, for the purposes of strength, and with vertical side walls a d and vertical front wall 6, the latter extending part way only across the front of the casing. The wall 0 extends from the shank A forwardly in a curved line substantially identical with the curve 1 1, terminating at its forward end in the wall 6, which extends from the termination of the wall a inwardly and backwardly in a reverse curve, substantially identical with the ogee curve 2 2, and termi- 5 nates atf. The wall 05 extends forwardly from the shank A in the form of a reverse curve substantially identical with the ogee curve 3 3, and terminates at g. The forward edge of the casing A, between the points f and g, ter- [00 minates in a vertical plane extending from the point f in an approximately straight line to the point 71, and from thence in a curve to the point 1', and from thence in a semicircle to and into the same plane with the side wall (Z. v

The coupling-jaw B is pivoted to the forward end of the draw-head A on the pin j, and consists ofa coupling-arm 7t, projecting laterally in front of the coupler, and a locking-arm Z, projecting within the draw-head and adapted to engage with the locking-pawl O. The arm Z is formed with a vertical work ing-face Z, extending in a plane tangential to an are from the pivotal axis of the lockingpawl O at its point of contact-with said pawl. The arm Z'is preferably constructed in the shape of an ogee curve extending between its working-face Z and the arm 7.; on one side, and on its opposite side in the form of the curve m, extending from the working-face Z to the hub of the jaw, and so formed that when the jaw is in the coupled position this side of the arm Z is in close proximity to the wall (Z of the draw-head. The arm 7.: is of the usual construction, having the pin-hole 7; and the link-notch 7c. The jaw B is formed with inclined earn-faces n on its under side, which engage with corresponding faces on the bottom wall of the draw-head, the inclines being so constructed that when the jaw is released by the locking-pawl 0 its own weight, acting on the inclines, will cause it to swing to the open or uncoupled position, as heretofore.

The locking-pawl O is pivoted within the casing A on a pivotal pin 0, and is constructed to swing into and out of engagement with the arm Z of the jaw B. The pawl is constructed, preferably, with a plurality of stops adapted to engage the working-face Z of the jaw B in successive positions of the latter. These stops consist, preferably, of steps or shoulders 11 p on the jaw near the end of the latter. The stepp engages the arm Z when the jaw 13 is in the normal coupled position, and the step 19 engages the arm Z when from some unusual cause it is not swung sufficiently far in the closed position to engage with the step p. The working-faces of the step 19 and the arm Z at their point of contact extend in a plane tangential to an are from the pivotal axis of the pawl, whereby the pulling strain on the coupling-jaw B is transmitted to the lockingpawl in a direction perpendicular to said working-faces, so that liability to accidental unlocking is avoided and the pawl can be easily withdrawn from engagement with the jaw 13 to uncouple the coupling. The pawl G works between arc-shaped inclines q 9', formed on the top and bottom walls of the draw-head A and arranged at different radial distances from the pivotal center of the pawl O and above and below the pawl. The inclines q r are so constructed that when the pawl is swung out of engagement with the jaw B it will be moved vertically by contact with the inclines, and when released its own Weight, acting on the incline (1, will cause it to automatically swing forward ing position.

The pawl O is preferably constructed with a recess 5 in its upper side, within which is the eye 5, to which a chain or equivalent flexible connection D is attached. The chain D passes out through an elongated slot E in the upper wall a of the draw-head, and serves to operate the pawl 0 when it is desired to release the jaw B. The slot E is formed to uncover the path traversed by the point of attachment of the chain D to thepawl C during the swinging of the pawl, whereby when the chain is pulled in order to unlock the pawl the tension exerted is transmitted directly to the pawlthroughout it swinging movement, and friction of the chain against the slot E is avoided.

I prefer to provide a re-enforced bearing for the pawl G. This preferably consists of an internal curved flangeF within the drawhead A and constructed to embrace the piv oted end of the pawl C, whereby strains transmitted to said pawl are resisted by said flange. The flange F preferably extends vertically from the top wall a to the bottom wall I) of the draw-head A, and is formed as a continuation of the wall '6 and loosely embraces the pivoted end of the pawl.

In operation the pulling strain on the coupling-jaw B will be transmitted through its locking-arm Z and the pawl C to the pivotal pin 0 and the flange F. By swinging the to the lockpawl O backward out of engagement with the arm Z of the locking-jaw the latter will of its own weight swing to the open position ready for coupling with an adjacent coupler. hen the pawl C is released, it will by gravity return to its locked position. As the jaw B is swung to the closed position by coupling with an adjacent coupler, its arm Z will swing back the pawl C until it has passed the latter, whereupon the pawl will swing into engagement with the working-face Z of the arm, and the jaw will be locked in the coupled position. Should the jaw for any reason not be swung entirely back, its arm Z will be engaged by the step 19 of the pawl C, and thereby be prevented from uncoupling.

Gar-couplers constructed according to my invention have, owing to their improved form, a greater strength both in the draw-head and the working parts of the coupler than those heretofore made, and the couplers are more certain and rapid in operation, while they can be operated with less difficulty, and the parts are less likely to be distorted or rendered inoperative by reason of any unusual strains to which they are subjected.

It will-be understood that my invention may be modified in some respects, and that certain features thereof may be used independently of others without departing from the nature of my invention.

What I claim are the following defined novel features and combinations, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, viz:

1. A car-coupler having a swinging coup ling-jaw and a horizontally-swinging pawl for locking said jaw, in combination with an inclosing draw-head within which said jaw and pawl are pivoted, said head constructed with an internal curved flange constructed to embrace the pivoted end of said locking-pawl and serve as a re-enforce bearing therefor, whereby strains transmitted to said pawl are resisted by said flange.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with an inclosing d raw-head, a horizontally-swinging coupling-jaw, and a horizontally-swinging pawl for locking the latter in the coupled position, of a chain or equivalent flexible connection attached to said pawl, said draw-head constructed with an elongated slot in its upper wall through which said chain passes out, said slot formed to uncover the path traversed by the point of attachment of said chain during the swinging of the pawl, whereby when said chain is pulled in order to unlock said pawl the tension exerted is transmitted directly to the pawl throughout its swinging movement.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the hollow draw-head A, having top and bot tom walls and front and side walls and formed with an opening through its top, of the swinging coupling-jaw B, having arms 7t and Z, and the swinging locking-pawl C, fulcrumed to the draw-head and constructed with stops 1) and p, adapted to successively engage with the jaw and with a recess 3 on its upper side, the chain or connection D, secured to the pawl within said recess and passing out through said top opening, whereby the pawl may extend close to the top wall of the drawhead.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the hollow draw-head A, having top and bottom walls and front and side walls of the shape shown and described, of the swinging couplin g-j aw B, having arms 70 and Z, and constructed on its under side with the inclines n 12, the swinging locking-pawl C, fulcruined to the draw-head and constructed with stops 2) and 11, adapted to successively engage with the jaw and with the recess 8 on its upper side, the chain or connection D, secured to the pawl at a point within the recess 3, and adapted when pulled to swing the pawl, said draw-head A being constructed with top and bottom arc-shaped inclines q and 1', arranged at different-radial distances from the pivotal center of the pawl 0 above and below the pawl, whereby when the latter is swung it will be moved vertically by contact with such inclines, and the draw-head constructed with the re-enforcing flange F, engaging the fulcrumed end of the pawl C and adapted to receive the strains transmitted to the latter, all as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

0'1"0 FLOUR.

ilitnesses:

AUGUST BECKER, OREL L. HERSHISER. 

